Vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus

ABSTRACT

A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus includes a pair of parallel support pillars supporting a pair of movable pillars for slidable movement along the support pillars to enable the movable pillars to be extended and retracted with respect to the support pillars. Each movable pillar can be releasably locked by a locking mechanism on the support pillars at a desired height along the support pillars. A pipe holder for supporting a pipe is connected between the top ends of the movable pillars. Each support pillar preferably has a length not exceeding the height of the top of a supported pipe when the movable pillars are in their fully retracted positions. Each movable pillar may have a length substantially equal to the length of the support pillars. The base and support pillars may be integrally formed with each other from a single piece of sheet metal, and the movable pillars and the pipe holder may be integrally formed with each other from another single piece of sheet metal.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application incorporates by reference the disclosure of JapanesePatent Application No. 2005-366322, filed on Dec. 20, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a pipe support apparatus and particularly to avertically adjustable pipe support apparatus for use in supporting apipe system under the floor of a building.

A conventional pipe support apparatus is arranged for supporting a pipeat an adjusted elevation and inclination so that a liquid in the pipecan smoothly flow through the supported pipe system. Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2004-204967 discloses one example of such apipe support apparatus, which comprises a pair of parallel supportpillars erected on a base and a pipe holder attached to the supportpillars at a selected elevation. Each support pillar has a series ofteeth along the pillar so that the pipe holder can be moved along theteeth and engaged at any selected position along the toothed pillars.

One application of a pipe support apparatus is to support a waterdrainage pipe system in which drain pipes are disposed under a floor ina slightly inclined position to ensure smooth and quick water drainage.In some locations, the pipe is supported at a higher position on thepipe support apparatus and the pipe holder is attached at a higherposition on the support pillars. In other locations, the pipe holder ismounted at a lower position on the support pillars to support the pipeat a lower position on the pipe support apparatus, and the upperportions of the support pillars are left unused and project upwardlyabove the pipe.

These projecting upper portions are unnecessary and awkward, especiallywhen the pipe support apparatus is used under a floor. In a high-riseapartment building, the space under a floor usually has a very smallheight, such as around 150 mm, so these unnecessary projections can be anuisance. In addition, in a single-family house in which the under-floorspace is narrow but a little larger, utility maintenance or repairsometimes requires personnel to enter into the narrow space under thefloor.

These unnecessary projections may not only be obstacles to the movementof the inspection personnel but may also endanger them in that theprojecting ends of the support pillars may hit or scratch the body ofthe personnel and cause injury. Therefore, these unnecessary anddangerous projections of the support pillars must often be cut off, andthe cut-off ends must be covered with rubber caps for safety reasons.This increases the number of procedures and the costs required toinstall the pipe system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide avertically adjustable pipe support apparatus that provides easy and safesupport for pipes installed under a floor of a building.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method ofsupporting a pipe using a pipe support apparatus.

According to one form of the present invention, a vertically adjustablepipe support apparatus includes a base and a first and second supportpillar mounted in parallel on the base and separated from each other bya distance larger than the diameter of a pipe to be supported. The firstand second support pillars support a first and second movable pillar,respectively, for slidable movement along the support pillars to enablethe movable pillars to be extended and retracted with respect to thesupport pillars. A locking mechanism is provided for locking the movablepillars at a desired height along the support pillars. A pipe holder forsupporting a pipe is connected between top ends of the movable pillars.Preferably the top of each support pillar is no higher than the top of asupported pipe when the movable pillars are in their fully retractedpositions. In addition, the tops of the movable pillars are preferablyno higher than the top of a supported pipe. The relative lengths of thesupport pillars and the movable pillars are not critical. In a preferredembodiment, each movable pillar has a length substantially equal to thelength of the corresponding support pillar.

In a preferred embodiment, the base and support pillars are integrallyformed with each other from a single piece of sheet metal, for example.The movable pillars and the pipe holder may also be integrally formedwith each other from another single piece of sheet metal.

In a preferred embodiment, each support pillar has a generally U-shapedcross section and each movable pillar is accommodated within theU-shaped cross section of the corresponding support pillar.

In a preferred embodiment, the pipe holder is an arcuate member shapedto extend along the circumference of the bottom half of a pipe beingsupported. For example, the pipe holder may be a generally C-shapedmember elastically fitting around a portion of the circumference of apipe.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a bolt whichis threadingly engaged with one of the movable pillars and can betightened against one of the support pillars.

According to another form of the present invention, a method ofsupporting a pipe includes receiving a first portion of the length of apipe in a pipe holder of a first pipe support apparatus with movablepillars of the first pipe support apparatus at a first height withrespect to a base of the first pipe support apparatus, and receiving asecond portion of the length of the pipe in the pipe holder of a secondpipe support apparatus with movable pillars of the second pipe supportapparatus at a second height with respect to the base of the second pipesupport apparatus which is higher than the first height.

A pipe support apparatus according to the present invention avoids theneed to have members projecting above the top of a pipe being supported,so the apparatus is easier to install than existing pipe supportapparatuses because it does not require projecting portions to be cutoff and covered with protective caps. The lack of projecting membersalso increases the safety of persons inspecting a piping systememploying the pipe support apparatus. These features make a pipe supportapparatus according to the present invention highly suitable forinstallation in crowded spaces such as beneath a floor of a building.However, the pipe support apparatus is not restricted to use in anyparticular environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vertically adjustablepipe support apparatus of the present invention in a fully retractedposition in which the movable pillars are fully retracted into thesupport pillars;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a state inwhich the movable pillars are partially extended from the supportpillars; and

FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing a supportedpipe in a fully raised and a fully lowered position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate an embodiment of a pipe support apparatus 1 ofthe present invention, which comprises a base 2 and a first and secondsupport pillar 3 mounted in parallel to each other on the base 2 andseparated from each other by a distance larger than the diameter D of apipe 4 to be supported. The base 2 and the two support pillars 3 in thisembodiment are manufactured from a substantially U-shaped single pieceof sheet metal so that they are integrally formed with each other. Eachof the two legs of the U-shaped piece of sheet metal is bent along itslength to form one of the support pillars 3, each of which has asubstantially U-shaped cross section, a top end 3 a, and a bottom end 3b. The leg portions of the support pillars 3 have outwardly extendingtabs 5 at their bottom ends 3 b. The bight portion of the U of the pieceof sheet metal is bent at its bottom edge to form an outwardly extendingflange 6 which, together with the tabs 5, forms the base 2. Each supportpillar 3 has a longitudinal slot 7 extending over substantially itsentire length. During use of the pipe support apparatus 1, the base 2usually sits on a support surface and if desired may be secured to thesupport surface. For example, the tabs 5 of the base 2 may have holesfor receiving screws of bolts for securing the base 2 to a supportsurface.

This embodiment of a pipe support apparatus 1 also comprises a first andsecond movable pillar 8 supported by the first and second supportpillars 3, respectively, for slidable movement along the height of thesupport pillars 3 to extend and retract the movable pillars 8 withrespect to the support pillars 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, each of the support pillars 3has a length L measured from the base 2 which does not exceed the heightHT measured from the base 2 of the top T of a supported pipe 4 when themovable pillars 8 are in their fully retracted position, shown by solidlines in FIG. 3 as well as in FIG. 1. In other words, the heights H3 ofthe top ends 3 a of the support pillars 3 are lower than the height HTof the top T of the pipe 4 in this position. Each of the movable pillars8 has a top end 8 a, a bottom end 8 b, and a length substantially equalto the length of the support pillars 3. The movable pillars 8 also havesubstantially U-shaped cross sections and are slidably received withinthe U-shaped portions of the support pillars 3 so that the movablepillars 8 can be slidably guided by the support pillars 3. Preferablythe top ends 8 a of the movable pillars 8 do not extend above the top Tof a supported pipe 4. By having the tops of the support pillars 3 andthe movable pillars 8 always be no higher than the top T of a supportedpipe 4, it becomes unnecessary to cut off any portions of the pillars 3and 8 and cover them with protective caps to prevent injury to a workerinspecting pipes supported underneath a floor by the pipe supportapparatus 1.

The pipe support apparatus 1 further comprises a pipe holder 9 connectedbetween top ends 8 a of the movable pillars 8 for supporting a pipe 4.The pipe holder 9 in the illustrated example is an arcuate, generallyC-shaped member extending along the circumference of the lower half of apipe 4 being supported. The cross section of the pipe holder 9 is alsosubstantially U-shaped with the open portion of the U facing downwardstowards the base 2, and the pipe holder 9 and the movable pillars 8 canbe manufactured by cutting and bending a single piece of sheet metal sothat they are integrally formed with each other. The C-shaped pipeholder 9 has some elasticity so that its mouth can be expanded to accepta pipe 4 and return to its original shape to elastically fit around aportion of the circumference of the pipe 4. As shown in FIG. 3, in orderto prevent a pipe 4 from becoming easily detached from the pipe holder9, the pipe holder 9 preferably extends around the pipe 4 for at leasthalf the circumference of the pipe 4, and the size of the mouth of thepipe holder 9 when the pipe holder 9 is grasping a pipe 4 is preferablysmaller than the diameter of the pipe 4. For example, in the illustratedembodiment, the pipe holder 9 is shown in FIG. 3 contacting theperiphery of a pipe 4 for approximately 200 degrees around thecircumference of the pipe 4, and the distance between the opposing edgesof the mouth of the pipe holder 9 is approximately 91% of the diameter Dof the pipe 4.

When the support pillars 3 are at least as long as the movable pillars8, the movable pillars 8 can be extended from and retracted into thesupport pillars 3 for substantially the entire length of the movablepillars 8. There are no particular restrictions on the lengths of thesupport pillars 3 and movable pillars 8. However, when the pipe supportapparatus 1 has a structure like that of the present embodiment in whichthe support pillars 3 and the movable pillars 8 have substantially thesame lengths as each other and the pipe holder 9 has a depth which is atleast the radius D/2 of a pipe 4 being supported, the support pillars 3will typically have a length at least somewhat larger than the radiusD/2 of the pipe 4. In this case, the stroke of movement of the movablepillars 8 relative to the support pillars 3 is approximately equal tothe radius D/2 of the pipe 4 being supported.

The pipe support apparatus 1 may further comprise a locking mechanism 10for releasably locking the movable pillars 8 with respect to the supportpillars 3 at a desired height along the support pillars 3 between afully extended position and a fully retracted position. In theillustrated embodiment, the locking mechanism 10 comprises bolts 11 eachextending through the elongated slot 7 in one of the support pillars 3and threadingly engaged into one of the movable pillars 8. Each bolt 11can be tightened at its head with a washer against one of the supportpillars 3. FIG. 1 shows the movable pillars 8 secured by the lockingmechanism 10 in a fully retracted position, and FIG. 2 shows the movablepillars 8 secured by the locking mechanism 10 in a partially extendedposition between the fully retracted position and a fully extendedposition.

The locking mechanism 10 is not restricted to a structure employingbolts 11 and can have any structure which enables the movable pillars 8to be releasably locked against movement along the height of the supportpillars 3. For example, the locking mechanism 10 may comprise threadedstuds extending outwards from the movable pillars 8 through the slots 7in the support pillars 3, and a nut can be mounted on the outer end ofeach stud. The movable pillars 8 can then be locked against movementwith respect to the support pillars 3 by tightening the nuts against theouter surfaces of the support pillars 3.

The stroke of the movable pillars 8 relative to the support pillars 3,which equals the range of vertical adjustment of the pipe 4, is therange of vertical movement of the bolts 11 within the slots 7. When themovable pillars 8 are in their fully retracted (lowest) position, thebolts 11 abut against the lower ends of the slots 7, and when themovable pillars 8 are in their fully extended (highest) position, thebolts 11 abut against the upper ends of the slots 7. The solid lines inFIG. 3 illustrate the pipe support apparatus 1 when the movable pillars8 are in their fully retracted position, and the dashed lines in FIG. 3show the pipe 4 and the bolts 11 when the movable pillars 8 are in theirfully extended position. As can be seen from FIG. 3, although the heightH3 of the top ends 3 a of the support pillars 3 is lower than the heightHT of the top T of a supported pipe 4 when the movable pillars 8 are inthe fully retracted position, the pipe holder 9 and the pipe 4 can beelevated further beyond the top ends 3 a of the support pillars 3. Inthis embodiment, when the movable pillars 8 are in their fully extendedposition, the bottom of the pipe 4 is higher than the tops of thesupport pillars 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base 2 and the support pillars 3 areintegrally formed from a single piece of sheet metal, and the movablepillars 8 and the pipe holder 9 are also integrally formed from a singlepiece of sheet metal, so the apparatus can be easily and economicallymanufactured using simple metal working techniques. However, theapparatus is not restricted to being formed from two one-piece members,and it is not restricted to being formed from sheet metal.

A pipe, such as a plastic pipe, can be supported in a desiredorientation with respect to the horizontal by one or more pipe supportapparatuses according to the present invention. Frequently a pipe willbe supported at two or more locations along its length by a pipe supportapparatus at each location, but depending upon the length and weight ofthe pipe and what it is connected to at its ends, a pipe may besupported by a pipe support apparatus at a single location along itslength. When a pipe 4 is supported by two pipe support apparatuses 1according to the present invention having the structure of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-3, each end of the pipe 4 can be force-fit intothe pipe holder 9 of one of two pipe support apparatuses 1 spaced fromeach other in the lengthwise direction of the pipe 4. The heights of themovable pillars 8 with respect to the support pillars 3 of each pipesupport apparatus 1 can be set by the locking mechanisms 10 to give thepipe 4 a suitable angle of inclination. The heights of the movablepillars 8 can be set either before or after the pipe 4 is engaged withthe pipe holders 9. If desired, each of the pipe support apparatuses 1can be secured at its base 2 in any convenient manner to a suitablesupport surface, either before or after the pipe 4 is engaged with thepipe holders 9. If the two pipe support apparatuses 1 are on a levelsurface, a pipe 4 can be inclined with respect to the horizontal bysetting the movable pillars 8 of the two pipe support apparatuses 1 atdifferent heights, while a pipe 4 can be supported with zero inclinationby setting the movable pillars 8 of the two pipe support apparatuses 1at the same height as each other. To give the pipe 4 the maximum angleof inclination, one of the pipe support apparatuses 1 can have itsmovable pillars 8 in the fully retracted position shown in FIG. 1, andthe other pipe support apparatuses 1 can have its movable pillars 8 inthe fully extended position shown in FIG. 3. Any combination of degreesof extension of the movable pillars 8 between these two extremes canalso be employed, depending upon the desired angle of inclination.

In the present embodiment, the movable pillars 8 are disposed betweenthe support pillars 3, but it is instead possible for the supportpillars 3 to be disposed between the movable pillars 8. In this case, anelongated slot may be formed in each of the movable pillars 8, and alocking mechanism may comprise a bolt which is threadingly engaged witheach of the support pillars 3, which extends through the elongated slotin the adjoining movable pillar 8, and which has a head which can betightened against the outer surface of the adjoining movable pillar 8 tolock the movable pillar 8 against movement with respect to the supportpillar 3.

1. A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus comprising: a base; afirst and a second support pillar mounted in parallel on the base andseparated from each other by a distance larger than a diameter of a pipeto be supported; a first and a second movable pillar supported by thefirst and second support pillar, respectively, for slidable movementalong a height of the support pillars to extend and retract the movablepillars with respect to the support pillars; a locking mechanism whichcan releasably lock the movable pillars against movement along theheight of the support pillars; and a pipe holder connected between topends of the movable pillars for supporting a pipe, wherein the supportpillars have a height with respect to the base which is no higher than aheight of the top of a pipe supported by the pipe holder when themovable pillars are fully retracted with respect to the support pillars.2. A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein each movable pillar has a length substantially equal to thelength of the support pillars.
 3. A vertically adjustable pipe supportapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base and the supportpillars are integrally formed with each from a single piece of sheetmetal, and the movable pillars and the pipe holder are integrally formedwith each other from a single piece of sheet metal.
 4. A verticallyadjustable pipe support apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein eachsupport pillar each has a substantially U-shaped cross section and eachmovable pillar is accommodated within the U-shaped cross section of oneof the support pillars.
 5. A vertically adjustable pipe supportapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pipe holder is an arcuatemember shaped to extend along the circumference of the bottom half of apipe to be supported.
 6. A vertically adjustable pipe support apparatusas claimed in claim 5, wherein the pipe holder is a generally C-shapedmember shaped to elastically fit around a portion of the circumferenceof a pipe to be supported.
 7. A vertically adjustable pipe supportapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprisesa bolt which is threadingly engaged with one of the movable pillars andcapable of being tightened against one of the support pillars.
 8. Amethod of supporting a pipe comprising: receiving a first portion of thelength of a pipe in the pipe holder of a first pipe support apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 with the movable pillars of the first pipe supportapparatus at a first height with respect to the base; and receiving asecond portion of the length of the pipe in the pipe holder of a secondpipe support apparatus as claimed in claim 1 with the movable pillars ofthe second pipe support apparatus at a second height with respect to thebase of the second pipe support apparatus, the second height beingdifferent from the first height.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 8wherein the pipe is elastically gripped by the pipe holders of the firstand second pipe support apparatuses.
 10. A pipe arrangement comprising:a first pipe support apparatus as claimed in claim 1 having its pipeholder at a first height with respect to its base; a second pipe supportapparatus as claimed in claim 1 having its pipe holder at a secondheight with respect to its base, the second height being different fromthe first base; and a pipe supported by the pipe holder of each of thefirst and second pipe support apparatuses.
 11. A pipe arrangement asclaimed in claim 10 wherein the pipe is elastically gripped by the pipeholders of the first and second pipe support apparatuses.
 12. Avertically adjustable pipe support apparatus comprising: a base; a firstand a second support pillar mounted in parallel on the base andintegrally formed with the base; a first and a second movable pillarslidably engaged with the first and second support pillar, respectively,for slidable movement along a height of the support pillars to extendand retract the movable pillars with respect to the support pillars; anda pipe holder integrally formed with the movable pillars and extendingbetween top ends of the movable pillars for supporting a pipe.
 13. Avertically adjustable pipe support apparatus as claimed in claim 12wherein the support pillars are integrally formed with the base from asingle piece of sheet metal, and the pipe holder is integrally formedwith the movable pillars from a single piece of sheet metal.